John Lewis has announced that the popular Cotswold bakery and tearoom business Huffkins, which has been operating in the region since 1890, will open a beautiful tearoom and shop in the retailer’s new shop in October. 

Famous in the Cotswolds for its locally sourced, high-quality produce, Huffkins will serve traditional afternoon tea, with a selection of delicate finger sandwiches made with freshly baked bread and tasty handmade scones prepared that day. Customers will also be able to enjoy a glass of prosecco as part of their high tea experience and for those with children, there will be a Huffkins Teddy Bears Picnic afternoon tea experience.

As well as afternoon tea, customers will also be able to enjoy a wide selection of hot and cold foods with new menu choices each day. Customers looking to start their day at John Lewis Cheltenham or meet friends for brunch, can choose from Huffkins’ breakfast menu which includes chilli smashed avocado and poached eggs on sourdough, eggs benedict, in addition to the traditional full english breakfast.

For those with a sweeter tooth, other highlights on the menu will include flaky pastries, cherry bakewell tarts and Huffkins’ signature salted caramel millionaire’s shortcake. Tea room customers will also be able to purchase freshly baked goods from the counter and retail displays will offer beautifully packaged Huffkins brand products including cakes, shortbreads, preserves, loose leaf teas and coffees.

​Martin Bundy, Branch Manager for John Lewis Cheltenham, said: “It’s brilliant to bring a local flavour into our new Cheltenham shop. Huffkins has a strong heritage in Cheltenham and the wider Cotswolds area, and we’re proud to be partnering with such a prestigious local brand for our first shop in Gloucestershire. I know our customers will love their delicious food.”

Joshua Taee, Managing Director at Huffkins, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening our sixth tea room in John Lewis Cheltenham, which is already a highly anticipated addition to the region. As a family based Cotswold business we’re committed to using local ingredients to create the highest quality food for our customers and are excited to bring our taste of the Cotswolds to shoppers at John Lewis Cheltenham.”                
        
Located on the first floor of John Lewis Cheltenham, overlooking the main entrance of the shop opening times will mirror those of the department store.  The existing ‘Little’ Huffkins that opened in Cheltenham in 2011, will remain in operation and is located opposite Cavendish House on the Promenade.

​Oxfordshire-based pub operator and brewer Brakspear has today revealed details of the extensive transformation set to be unveiled when the much-loved The Frogmill reopens its doors with an entirely new look in July 2018, following the brewer’s acquisition of the site in December 2015.

The largest project in Brakspear’s 240-year history, the renovation is set to breathe new life into the 16th century inn, transforming it into a boutique destination in the heart of the Cotswolds with delicious all-day dining, stylish rooms and attractive wedding and event facilities. 

Tom Davies, Chief Executive of Brakspear, commented: “We’ve always been very mindful of the fact that this is a place with a rich history, close to the hearts of many in the local community. The renovation itself, although creating an entirely new look and feel to the inn’s restaurant, rooms, bar and beautiful outdoor space, will showcase many elements of its heritage alongside thoughtful modern twists; giving a distinctly stylish feel coupled with bags of old-world Cotswold charm. We invite all to come along in July to see it for themselves!”

With Brakspear’s in-house design team leading the renovations, The Frogmill will boast an entirely new bar and restaurant layout alongside 28 plush en-suite bedrooms. Design details revealed for the first time today include:

The Bar 
An entirely new, large bar area has been created at the heart of the inn through clever use of former cellar space, with the site’s former bar area transformed into a cosy snug complete with open fire. Designed to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in keeping with the building’s longstanding history, the bar itself will have a distinctly traditional feel with timber-clad walls, reclaimed oak beams, flagstone flooring and mismatched vintage furniture, with a beautiful oak bar as its centrepiece. 

The Restaurant
Much like the bar, the Frogmill’s new-look restaurant area has been extended with a spacious open-plan layout, affording the space with plenty of light for a bright, relaxed dining experience. Classic Cotswold-country hues will give the restaurant a refined, elegant feel in keeping with the locality, with timber-clad walls, sandblasted oak dining furniture and eclectic artwork giving the space plenty of texture and personality.

The Bedrooms
28 en-suite bedrooms will offer a plush space for travellers to unwind, perfectly positioned to explore The Cotswolds’ numerous towns and villages. Distinctly boutique in feel, the bedrooms will house sink-in Feather & Black beds, statement wallpaper from William Morris and Zoffany, GP&J Baker fabrics and eye-catching light fixtures from Jim Lawrence; as well as vintage Ercol furnishings in several of the larger bedrooms. En-suite bathrooms will carry on the laid-back luxury feel of the rooms, with feature tiling, waterfall showers and beautiful baths in a selection of the rooms.
 
Wedding and Events Space
Decorated in an elegant, classic French style, The Frogmill’s new-look wedding and events space will feature a minstrel gallery complete with traditional imported French balustrading; ideal for picture-perfect wedding shots. With a capacity of 150, the space will offer generous provisions for weddings, celebrations and corporate events alike.

Outside
The Frogmill’s extensive grounds will offer a tranquil place for visitors to sit back, relax and drink in the stunning rolling Cotswold landscape surrounding the inn. Completely re-landscaped courtesy landscape designer Justin Spink, the dog-friendly garden will boast a dining terrace and boules court, as well as a large lawned area; perfect for younger guests wanting to stretch their legs. 

Tom Davies continued: “We’re incredibly excited that the opening date for our new-look Frogmill is almost upon us and the site is really starting to take shape. It’s amazing to see the fruits of our labour come together after months of hard work and we can’t wait to reveal exactly what this much-loved inn has up its sleeves for locals and tourists alike.”

The OVO Energy 2018 Tour of Britain will again come through the Cotswolds on Wednesday 5 September, albeit very briefly. 

Stage Four will be raced over 183 kilometres – the second longest of this year’s Tour – from Nuneaton to Royal Leamington Spa and pass through Ilmington, where the King of the Mountain climb will start, and through Ebrington and Charingworth before heading up to Edge Hill. 

Visit www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-four to see Stage Four and the rest of the tour.

Are you a parent in need of a little inspiration to spend some quality time with your children? Well, double Olympic gold medallist rower, adventurer and father of three, Alex Gregory has written just the thing for you.

DadVentures is the ultimate family activity guide which shares lots of ideas for enjoying time together as a family, in all seasons. Whether you have 30 minutes to do homework up a tree, or a whole day to build an ancient bridge, you can delve in together and be inspired by this practical, easy guide for all ages. Divided into categories to fit whatever time slots work within the day, the book contains chapters such as After-School Adventures, 30-Minute Activities, Two-Hour Missions, Half-Day Experiences, Full-Day Adventures, Overnight Expeditions and Pushing Away from Land.

​You can purchase the book now by visiting www.harpercollins.co.uk/9780008283704/dadventures/